Counter-forming machine.



A F. JONES. I COUNTER FORMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1911 1 19259 Patented May19,1914..

l2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ajfl" A. P. JONES. COUNTER FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.28,1911. 1,097,589. Patented May 19, 1914.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

# z fi yaam A. F. JONES.

COUNTER FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1911.

Patented May 19, 1914.

12 SHEBTSSHEET 3.

&

A. F. JONES.

COUNTER FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.28,1911.

19975589 Patented May 19, 1914.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

A. P. JONES.

UOUNTERJORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 28, 1911.

Patented May 19, 1914.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 5,

A. F. JONES COUNTER FORMING MACHINE.

.AYPPLIQATION FILED APR. 28, 1911.

1,097,589 Patented May 19, 191 i 12 SHEETSSHI\JET a.

Zfliinesses; T M 1720622207? A. F. JONES. COUNTER FORMING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1911.

Patented May 19, 191 1.

12'sEEETssHE1;T 7.

jfzaemior' l 2 7 f 'l ((MMJ WW WM 7 W111 A. F. JONES. COUNTER FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR ;28, 1911.

Patented May 19, 1914.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

4 437 Zok'ii'ae as 83 fizz/672502 A! 59. Em, 4% W A. F, JONES. QOUNTER FORMING MACHINE. APPLIOATl ON FILED APR. 28 19.11.

agflgiwgg. Patented May 19, 1914.

12 SHEETS SHEET 9,

A. P. JONES. COUNTER. FORMING MACHINE. I APPLICATION I ILED APR. 28, 1911.

Patented May 19, 1914.-

' 12 SHEETS-SHIBBT 10.

Z40 1992a, 233 O\ 252' a 4 k H A. 1?. JONES. COUNTER FORMlNG' M'ASBINE.

. APPLIOATIONIHLBD APR.2B,1911.

Patented May 19, 1914;.

"12 SHEETS-fiHEET 11.

A. F. JONES. 000mm FORMING magma APPLICATION mum APR. 22,1911. v 1 09735 9 Patented May 19, 191% 12 SHEETBTSHEET l2.

flue/2E0);

QM? M NJ 66 11W y "ALBE T r. JONES, or SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

oonNrEe-roamive MAGHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May is, 1914.

Application filed April as, 1911. Serial No. 623,948.

To all whom it may concern .1

Be it known that I, ALBERT F. JoNns', a

' citizen of the United States,'res iding at Sa lem, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement 1n Counter- Formmg- Machines, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to counter-forming machines such as shown in my application for Letters Patent #498,411, filed May 26,

. 1909, and insome particulars is an improvement 'on said machine.

'In the present embodiment of my invention the counter-blanks which have been previously curved longitudinally and preferably transversely, arearranged insmall toidisengage the turret and permit it to revolve only upon the completion of several successive operations of the machine, so that the turret is caused to dwell in each of its different positions while several blanks are being removed from each pile by the pickup device.

The pick-up device is constructed and arranged to engage the top blank of a pile contained in the holder which, at the time, oc-

cupies a position beneath it, and to remove said top blank from the p1le and convey 1t to a blank-adjuster, and said pick-up device has diverging spurs arranged to penetrate the surface of the blank in opposite diagonal directions, to thus positively engage said top blank of the pie, and means are provided to operate said pick-pp device to engage the top blank of the' pile and cause the spurs to penetrate the surface of the blank, and to remove the blank from the holder and to convey the blankto and deliver it upon the blank-adjuster. The blankadjuster is movable to convey the blank which is delivered to it by the pickup de-' vice to the feeding-and-bending device, and

said blank a djuster is an important feature v of themachlne, in that 1t provides for correcting the positionot the blank, as for instance, wlth respect to the feeding-and-bendmg device, so that it may be correctly presentedto said device, to be engaged by it and subsequently delivered to the molding or compressing-mechanism. As the blanksare arranged more or less promiscuous v in the holders, although in piles, and furthermore, as they are inclined to be warped more or less out of true, the employment of a blank-adjuster is necessary. Said blankadjuster has a horizontal bed upon which the blank is deposited by the pick-up device, and has means to engage the edge of. the

blank and by pushing it along on'the hori-- zontal bed to correct its pos1tion with respect tothe feedin'g-and-bending device while it is being moved along. It also has means to engage the ends of the blank while on the bed tomove said blank endwise, and thus bring its ends into the same or some predetermined plane. lVhen the ends of the blank are brought into the same plane the sides of the counter will be of equal length, and when said ends are-brought into an inclined plane, as is possible by the means embodying this invention, the sides of the counter will be of unequal length, and such counters havingone side longer than the other may be used as rights andflefts. It also has curved forming-means to correct the longitudinal curvature of the blank, in order that such curvature may correspond to the arc of the severalpairs of nippers of the feeding-and-bending device. Said curved forming-means is arranged at the front end of the horizontal bed, so that the' blank will be correctly formed as it is thrust into the jaws of the several pairs of nippers which are borne by the feedi11gand-bending device. When the edge of the blank is thrust between the open jaws o1 the nippers, and said jaws close upon .it the tendency is for the blank to be tipped up or otherwise displaced, particularly on account of its transverse curvature, unless positively held at such time, hence means are provided to positively engage the blank when in this position and hold it while the jaws close upon it, and herein such means consists of lifting-levers adapted to be operated to press the blank against the'curved forming-means, and thus not only hold the blank against displacement, but also hold it in its correctly curved position.

v The feeding-and.-hending device is designed to take the blank from the blank-aduster and convey it to the compressingmechanism, and to bend it into heel-form while in transit. Said feeding-and-bending device comprises a middle pair of nippers; arranged in a horizontal plane to engage the heel of the blank, and two side pairs of nippers inclined in oppositeways with respect to the middle pair, to engage the sides'of the blank, thus adapting them to. engage the curved blank. The middle pair of nippers .is loosely supported to accommodate the upward movements of the compressing-jaws relative to the former when the blank is first-projected therebetween. and while still held by the several pairs of nippers, and the two side pairs ot-nippers are adapted to oscillate on horizontal axes and also to be lifted bodily in the arc of a circle. to the side portions of the blank engaged by them in an upward. and inward direction. Automatic means are provided for opening and forclosi the nipper-members at the proper time, and automatic means are provided for lifting the two pairs of side nippers and for turning them on their axes. The several pairs of nippers are arranged on a head which isadapted to oscillate and said oscillat1r{ headis arran ed on a movable su port to thus present tne mppers first to the blan adjuster and then to the compress in -mecl anism, and means are prdvided to o cillate said head, and to move said support. Cooperating centering-means are arranged on the oscillating-head and blank adjuster, to enable said parts to be correctly disposed when in engagement with each other; and means are arranged on the blankadjuster to engage some of the nipper-memhers, to hold them in correct position with respect to the curved forming-means on the blank-adjuster. The blank is presented edgewise to the comprcssing-mechanism and is held'by the blank-engaging nippers engaging its straight edge until its curved edge-portion is engaged by the compressingmechanisi, when it is disengaged. and the blank-engaging nippers then return to obtain the next blank from the blank-adjuster.

The compressing-i icchanismcomprises essentially a former of heel-form, and a pair of compressingjaws aa'anged at opposite sides of the former. said former and .com-

pressing-jaws cc jaw has a mo ding-face including one-half of the c cr. "idsaid jaws are pivotaily supportm toward irom the former. and they are also provided with means to engage each other, so that they are caused to move alike. The compressing-jaws are arranged on a vertically mov ble support or jaw-carrier, movement of which in turn moves the aws toward and from the former, and means are their lower ends to be mover .55 provided to turn the-jaws on their pivots in Lstituting a mold, and each a direction toward and'from the former while the jaws are being moved by said vertically movable support. Said jaws are moved toward the former and are turned on their pivots quickly during the initial movement of their operating-means, and are moved slowly in the same directions to exert upon the blank a gradually increasing pressure during the subsequent movement of said operating-means, so that the blank is first positioned on the former and slightly compressed and is then severely compressed duringa long period of time to give to it a permanent set.

The straight edge of the blank which is engaged by the several pairs of nippers while presenting the blank to the compressing-mcchanism is utilized as the flange for the counter. and said edge'is turned inward by a Hanging-device to form said flange. The Hanging-device employed for this pur pose consists essentially of a Hat platewhich is movable over the face of the mold to turn said straight edge inward over upon the former, and, herein 'said plate is supported so as to first engage the straight edge of the blank at its heel end at a distance quite re l mote from the face of the mold so as not to break the blank by forming a sharp bend too quickly. and as it ad *ances it is caused to gradually approach the face of the mold to thus lay down the flange which is being turned in by it, so that when'itarrives at the end of its stroke the l'langeis turned in and laid down and is firmly engaged over all. Said flangingplate is preferably supported at an-inclination with respect to the face of the mold and is gradually moved into parallel therewith as it advances. Means are pro ided to move said flanging-plate over the face of the mold and means are also provided to move said hanging-plate in a direction, toward the face of the mold while it is being moved ov r said iace. lVhen the flange has been turned in and laid flat upon the former, it is necessary to then subject it to a severe fiat pressure, to permanently set it, and to accomplish this result means are also provided for moving said flanging-plate in a direction toward the face of the mold with a severe pressure at'the end. of its stroke, or when the flange has been complctely formed.

Means are provided 'for moving the former forward. to bring its lower end out of the plane of the compressingjaws, to permit the discharge of a molded-counter, and a discharging-device is arranged on the former which acts to remove the molded forming machine embodying this invention,

the-.feeding-and-bending device being omitted. [Fig.2 is a side elevation of the machine shown'ili Fig. 1. v Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the machine shown in Fig. 1, taken on the dotted line F ig. tis alvertical sectionof the machine shown in Fig. 1, taken on the dotted line 47-4. Figs". 5, 6, 7 and S are enlarged details of-the'pick-up device to-be referred to, in connection with one ofthe blank-holders. Figs. 9,10 and 11 areenlarged details of the pick-up device to'be'referred to, in connection with-one of the blank holders and a portion of the blank-adjuster. Fig. 12 is a detail of the sliding-frame of the pick-up device. Fig. 13 is an enlarged side elevation of the blankadjuster. Fig. 14' is an enlarged detail showing in plan-view the horizontal bedof the blank-adjuster. Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are enlarged details of-portions of the blankadjuster. Fig. 18 is'an enlarged'plan view of the feeding-and-bending device, the full lines representing the device in the position it will occupy when delivering a blank to.

thecompressing-mechanism. Fig. 19 is'an enlarged rear elevation of the head of the feeding-and-bending device. Fig. 20 is a front elevation of the head shown in Fi 19.

Fig. 21 is a side elevation of the head sliown in Fig.- 19. Fig. 522 is a detail of thetwo pairs of side blank-engaging nippe'rs. 23 is a side elevation of one of thesidepairs of nippers,'t-he nipper-members being closed.

Fig. 24 is .a view similar to Fig. 23, the .nip-

per-members being open. Fig. 25 is .a perspective View of the pair of side 'ni'ppers shown in Fig. '24. Fig; 26 is a side elevation of the middle pair of nippers. "Figs. 27 and 28. are detailed views of parts of the middle pair of nippers. Fig. 29 is an enlarged vertical section of the supports and operatingmeans .forythe two pairs ofside nippers.

Fig. 30'isa. detail of the 'meansto lift and turn the. two pairsof side nippers. Fig. 31

is an enlarged side elevation of the fianging and compressing-device. Figs. 32 and 33 are details'of the means to move the former forward to discharge the molded-counter. Fig.

34 is a detail of the compressing-jaws in their normal position. -Fig. 35 1s a view ,similar to Fig. 34', the compressing-jaws be;

ing in engagement with the blank. on the,

. former at the end of the initial movement. Fig. 36 is a view similar to Fig. 35 the ]&WS

having been moved to subjectthe blank to its final pressure. Fig. 37 is an. enlarged vertical section of the flange-turning and compressing-device, the parts having been- Fig. 38 is a VIEW.

moved a short distance. similar. to Fig. 37, the flange-turning and compressing-device having been completely operated. Figs. 39v and 4:0 are enlarged details illustrating the action of the flangingplatein forming the flange. Flg. 41 is a detail View of a receptacle to receive the dis- Fig. 6, th'eback wall 54; is rigidly connected frame, and is adapted tobe moved rotarily mining-means which engages-it, and which charged counter, and means to lift it to convey said counter to a chute.

T hecounter-blanks, which have been previously cur'ved lengthwise and "crosswise by means not here shown, as such means forms no part of this invention, are arranged in small piles in shallow holders borne by-a horizontally arrangedturret. 50 represents the hub of the turret, and

v 51 its radially extended armswhich bear at the front wall 53, is made adjustable toward and from the back wall to admit of holdingblanks of difierent -widths. lteferring to so with the arm 51, and. the front, end and bottom walls are connected. together and to a short arm 56, which is extended from'the botton wall beneath thearm 51, and is attache'd to said a-rm'bybolts'5'i' passing 5 through. slots 58 in 'said arm,- permitting longitudinal adjustment thereof.

The turret is loosely mounted on avertical rod 60, forming apart of the main about said rod as an axis to bring one or another blank-holder into position beneath a pick-up device. The turret is held stationary in its'difierent position by suitable reis'adap'ted to be operate dto disengage'it and permit it to be moved until again engaged thereby, thus rotary movementof the turret is intermittent, andsaid turret is causedto. dwell in each diflerent position while the n pick-up device is operated. several times to remove from each blank-holder several blanks. As a retaining-means for the turrots, as here shown, detents 61- are arranged on the upper sides of the arms of the tur=- ret, adapted to be? engagedby one or the other, end of a double detent-lever 62, secured to the lower end of a short-shaft 63, havingfits-"bearings in an arm 6st on .the frame: The shaft 63 is oscillated to move .the detent-lever 62, to disengage and engage the detents on the turret, thus permitting the turret [0 move one step on each movem'ent of said detent leverv Als here shown,

the turretcarries eight blank-holders, equidistantly arranged, and is provided with. four detents 61, also equidistantly arranged,- and while one of the detents is engaged by one end of the detent-lever (see Fig. 3), the other end of said. detent-lever is removed from the path of movement of the detents, but when the short shaft'63 is turned the detent-lever is moved to disengage the detent and its opposite, end moved into posi-l tion to engage the same detent and will engage it when the turret has moved one step; then when said short shaftis again moved, but in the opposite direction, said detent is again disengaged and the opposite end of the detent-lever moved into position to .engage'the next detent and will engage it when the turret has moved another step, .and so 011, thus intermittently disengaging the. turret and permitting it to r volve; Means are provided for oscillating said short shaft when the machine has made a predetermined number of operations and a corresponding number of blanks have been removed from ranged in different planes,- one above the other, whereby they maybe engaged respectively by the cams on the opposite sides of the cam-disk, and both levers are secured to a hub 69 mounted on a stub-shaft at one side of the rod 60, and an arm-70 extends from said hub which is connected bya link 7 1, with an arm 72, secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft 73, bearing at its upper end an arm 74, which isconnected y a link '75 with an arm 76 rigidly secured to the shaft 63 of the detent-lever. As one or the other cam-lever is moved by the cams on the disk the hub 69 hearing them is oscillated and by the connections between said hub and the shaft 63, said shaft 63 is likewise operated to move the detent-lever and disengage the turret.

To revolve the disk 65 intermittently it has connected with it a ratchet-wheel 80, which is also mounted loosely on the rod 60,

and said ratchet-wheel is advanced step by step by a pawl 81. pivotally connected-to the arm 82, secured to an upright shaft 83, having is bearings in the main frame and bearing at its upper end an arm 84, with or without a roll thereon, whichis adapted to be engaged and moved by a' projection 85, arranged on one side of the cam-disk 86, which is secured to the main-shaft 87 of the machine. And once during each revolution of-said main-shaft 87, said arm 8 is en and moved and the shaft oscillated and the pawl 81 caused to advance the ratchet-wheel one step. The shaft 83 is restored to normal and the pawl 81 moved to engage. the next tooth .of, the ratchetwheel by a spring 88, which is attached at one end to the frame and at the other end to an arm 89,.onthe shaft 83. The pawl is held in engagement with the ratchet-wheel .by -a spring.

means operated by the main shaft, but as the cams on said disk are'quite long and widely separated, they will not operate to move the detent-leveronly after said 'disk has been moved sever-alsteps, thus permitting the turret to dwell in each position it may occupy while the'machine makesa predetermined number of revolutions, which is determined by the number of teeth which may be cut on the ratchet wheel; It will be observed that in a distance equal to the length of each cam and the succeeding space quite a number of teeth are cut on the ratchet-wheel.

As the means to move the turret, I herein employ a strong coiled spring 95. arranged on the rod 60, the upper end of which attached to the turret and the lower. end to the ratchet-wheel, and as said ratchet-wheel is advanced step 'by step said spring is caused to accumulate sufficient power to move the'turret by the time the turret. is disengaged and permitted to move. I Thus it will be seen that the several blank-holders are successively presented to the pick-up device, each being permitted to dwell while the machine maker a predetermined number of operations. l

The pick-up device .by which the blanks are taken from the tops of-the piles in the holders and conveyedto the blank-adjuster will now be described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 to 12, represents a pair of sharp pointed spurs divergingly arranged at the extremities of a pair of converging arms-101, of a pair of bell-crank levers, which are pivoted at 102, to 'a'frame 103, the arms 104 of said belllot crank levers extending inward toward each other and adapted to be engaged by suitable means toturn the levers on their pivots; The extremities of the converging arms are normally in contact with each other, see Fig. 5, and assaid arms are spread the diverging spurs are caused to penetrate the surface of the blank in opposite diagonal directions, and thus obtain a firm engagement therewith, so as to lift it .from the holder, andsubsequently as saidarms are restored to normal said spurs are withdrawn from the blank to disengage it. The frame 103 bearing said levers 15 shown separately in Fig, 12. and has'at its lower en a boss 111 masses of inverted t -shape, which occupies a position between the diverging spurs, and be- 111g thus located with respect to said spursacts as a presser-foot to engage the top blank of a pile and, thus hold the blanks from displacement while the spurs pene' trate its surface. The frame 103 is slidably connected to a bar 105, said'frame having a tremity of a lever 110, pivotally supported on a bracket 112 on the frame, and said lever bears a roll 113, which engages the edge of a cam 86. v

Itis desired that the frame 103 and parts borne; by it shall more downward in a straight line or :Zhereabout, notwithstanding it is connected with the bar 105, which is connected to the extremity of the arm 110, which moves about an axis, butas a swinging movement of said bar 105 with respect to the arm 110 is permitted, advantage is taken of the fact, and the frame 103 is provided with an upward extension 116, which is slotted lengthwise in a diagonal direction to receive a fixed arm 117 on the main frame, so that as the bar 105 and frame 103 are mo'ved up and down they will be gradually swung and thus caused to -mo've 111 a direct line toward the blank.

' hold the sliding frame 103 on the bar when the latter is in its normal or elevated posit1on,; and also to move the bell-crank levers into and hold them 1n their normal positions,-see Fig. 5, a cross-bar 108 is extended through the bar 105 at a point near its lower end, and the arms 101 of said levers extend over the ends of said cross-bar, and are engaged thereby-and the levers are turned on g their'pivots until the lower ends of the conjverging arms engage each other, whereby further movement of said levers is prevented, and the frame 103 is th us supported bythe eross-bar 108, engaging the arms 101,

I which, when in normal positiomure held fixed by the engagement of the converging arms: The cam 86 1s cutaway entirely one side, so that when such cut-away portion comes opposite the roll 113 and the lever 110 is permitted to fall, the bar 105 carrying the frame 103 is permitted to descend by gravity. Such downward movement of the bar and frame continues untilv the presser-foot 11-1 strikes the top blank of a pile', regardless of the height of the pile,

levers, thus permitting the converging arms to be spread to cause the spurs to penetrate the surface of the top blank of the pile. The lower end of the bar 105 is designed to be employed as a spreading-means for the converging spur-carrying arms, and, as

here shown, said lower end is made wedge-- shaped, as at 11e,to enter between the extrenuties of said arms and thus spread them, seeF 1g. 8, and force the spurs'inio the top blank.

When the frame 103 has been moved downward into the position shown in Fig. 8, and the spurs hrust laterally to firmly engage the blank, itis necessary to'lock the spurs in such position and rigidly 'connect the "frame 103 with the bar 105, in order that said bar, when raised, will act to lift said frame and abnormally disposedspurs and the blank engaged by them, and to accomplish this result a locking-device is here shown, consisting, of a ratchet-toothed bar 120, :arranged on a portion of the bar 105, and one or more pawls 121, three being here shown, to engage said ratchettoothed bar, which are pivotally supported on a bracket on the frame 103', andwhen the bar 105 is moved downward independently of the frame .103, said ratchet-toothed bar 120 moves over the pawls, permitting engagement of the pawls therewith, see Fig. 7, so that when the bar is subsequently lifted the frame 103 will be lifted by it, together with the blank engaged by the spurs, although said frame at such time is in its abnormal position with respect to the bar. Said pawls may act by gravity when permitted but. must be positively moved to disengage the ratchet-toothed bar. hence they will remain in engagement until thus positively moved. The bar 105 is raised by the cam 86, and when thus raised is ready to be swung on its universal joint connection to move the blank carried by the spurs into a position above the blank-adjuster, as shown in Fig. 9. Such swinging movement of the bar is accomplished by the lever 125, secured at one end to a shortshaft 120, supported by the main-frame, the opposite end of said lever being arranged to engage the back of frame 103, and a'lever 127 also secured to said shaft 126, bearing a roll 128. adapted to be engaged by a cam-projection 129, arranged on the side of the large gear wheel 90, so that during each revolution of said gear-wheel. which, it will be understood represents one complete operation of the machine. said lever 125is moved to swing the bar and frame. Ythen the bar and frame arrive in the position shown in Fig. 9, they are caused to again descend to deliver the blank to the adjuster, and this result is accomplished by the aforesaid cam 80, permitting the arm 110 to again descend together with the parts borne by it. As the'bar and frame again lea.

descend a pin 130, projecting a plate 131 pivoted to a bra ket on the frame,

103, is caused to engage the inclined side of a plate 132, which is stat-ionarily supported on the main-frame, and said plate 131 is moved and a dog 133 on the pivot shaft of said plate is moved by it into position to engage an extension 13% on the pawl or pawls 121, acting to disengage them from the ratchet-toothed bar. The frame 103 is thus disengaged from the bar 105, so that said bar may be moved upwardly independently of said frame. The bar 105 is then moved upward and the crossbar 1'08 en- 15 gages the arms 101 of the bell-crank levers and turns said levers on their pivots and withdraws the spurs-.frdm the blank, thus disengaging the blank. By this time the cam 129 has passed by the roll 1'28, so'that the bar 105 and parts borne-by it are permitted to resume their normal position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, returning by gravity and striking against a buffer 135, which limits their return movement.

The blank-adjuster to which the blank is delivered by the pick-up device will now be described. Said blank-adjuster receives the blanks from the pick-up device and conveys them to a feeding-and-bending device, by which they are delivered to the molding or compressingdevice,and as it is necessary that the blanks shall be delivered by the feeding-and-bending device to the molding or compretlsing-device with the utmost precision as regards their position, it is necessary that they shall be presented to the feeding-and-bending device 'ith the same we cision as regards their position, and. the blank-adjuster is employed to thus adjust 40 the position oi the blanks. It will. be understood that the blanks contained in the hold ers are not adjusted as regards their posi' tion, and no attempt is made to do so, hence when removed from the holder they may or may not be correctlydisposed to be engaged by the fee'ding-and-bending device.

Referr ng particularly to Figs. 1 to 4- and 9 to 17, illustrating the blank-adjuster, it.

will be observed in Fig. 10 that the blank is delivered by the-piok-up device and deposited upon a horizontal bed, here shown as composed o:i:',a plurality of wires 140-, arranged in parallel, four wires ordinarily being suilicient. ySaid wires are attached to supports 1 11, preferably made adjustable and arranged at different elevations to re eeive the longitudinally curved blank. the

' wires being arranged in a horitwo outside zontal plane above the two inside wires, see

1 11 are all angularly formed and those on one side extend to and are connected with a bracket 1&2, and those on the other side extend to and are' con- The supports laterally from i nected with a bracket 14:3, and said brack ets are attached respectively to upright bars 114, L15, which form the vertical bars of the frame of the blank-adjuster. Said upright bars'are connected together rigidly at their lower ends by a yoke 146 and said yoke supported on a horizontal crossbar 1 .17 having its bearings in a bracket 1&8, attached to the main-frame. The adjuster-frame is permitted to oscillate on said bar 1417 and the extent of its oscillation is suilicient to move the blank-supporting bed from a position with its rear end beneath the picionp device to a position with its front end in engagementwith the leedingand-hending device, so that the blank when moved along on said bed will be delivered to said teed ing-and-bending device.

In Fig. 1 the blank-adjuster is represented in position to receive the blank tron-i the pick-up device, and the pick-up device is in its normal position above the blankholder, and in Figs. 9 and 10 the pick-up device is moved to deliver the blank to the blank-adjuster, and in Fig. 13 the blank adjuster is'moved into position to dcli'i't-r the blank to the feedingand-bending device, The blank-adjuster is'oscillaled at regular intervals in correspondence with the opera tions of the machine, and'to accomplish this resultsaid yoke 146 has a downwardly extended arin M19 to the extremity of which one end of a link 150 is connected, the opposite end of said link being loosely connected to the extremity of an arm-151, see 1. 191. 15, pivotally supported on an upright bar 152 off the main frame, said arm bearing a roll 153 which is engaged by a cam 1-11; FLlll'Qd to the uprightv gear-shaft 1.35, which, as here shtywn, has a bt-ivel-gez'ir 1310 at its up" per end, .vhich is engaged and driven by a bevehgear 157, secured to the main-shaft ST. The adjuster-frame is moved in one direction by said cam 154:, and is returned by a weight 158 attached to an arm 159 011 said frame. I

The blank is adjusted on its bed to bring its frpnt straight edge in parallel with the jaws of the feeding-and-bending device by means engaging its rear or curved edge, and, as here shown, the means employed to push the blank along on the bed also employed to thus adjust it. A middle and two side blanl r-pushing arms are enrplcryed for this purpose, 160 representing the middle arm and 161, 162 the two side arms. The middle arm is made quite long and has, a flat plate 103 at its upper end tO=L i go the edge of a blank on the ed, and its lower end is mounted loosely on a. horizontal shaft 101-, having its hearings in the side arms oi the adjuster-trams to oscillate thereon. The two side arms 161 and 162 are pivotaily sup ported upon opposite sides oi said middle arm, at points intermediate their lengtlnat held against fixed pins 166, by springs 16'? and their upper ends terminating above the blank on the bed, and so disposed as to engage the rear curved edge of said blank. baid middle arm and the side arms borne by it are moved positively to push the, blank forward on the bed. and when so moved the I middle arm passes along the space between the ad'uster-frame and an arm 1'75 is se-.

the two lower inside bed wiresand the side arms pass along the spaces between the inside and outside bed wires. the bed are required to permit movement of said arms, or in other words a'longitu'dr nally slotted bed is required. Assuming a; blank is resting loosely on the bed, as shown in Fig. 14, and the arms are advanced, it will be observed that in case the blank is in any respect out of correct position to be engaged by the feeding-and-bending device it will be adjusted while being moved along on the bed. As a means to move said blank pushing arms on the shaft 16%, a spring 170 encircles the shaft, which is connected at one end to the middle-arm and atthe other end to the shaft, and an arm 171 is secured to one end of said shaft which is connected by a rod 172 with an arm 1'73, secured to a horizontal shaft 174, having its bearings in cured to said shaft 174, which is connected by a rod 176, with one arm of a bell-crank lever 177, the other) arm of which is 'con. nected by a link 17 8, with one arm 179 of a bell-crank lever, pivoted at 180 to an arm on the frame, the other arm 181 of said lever being arranged to be engaged by a cam 182 secured to 'the-gear-shaft 155. The same projection 182 is arranged to lift the arm 181 a short distance, t-hento hold in such ele ated posit-ion, thento again lift it farther and then to disengage it permitting it to return to normal. During each revolution of said-gear-shaft the cam 182 is revolved, and as its projection has two rises the arm 181 will be raised a short distance to move the blank-pushing arms-forward a short distance, and will then dwell for a short period of time, permitting said arms to dwell for reasons to be hereinafter set forth, and then will be further raised a short distance to further move the blankpushing arms forward a short distance and complete their advancing stroke. Forward movement of the side arms is-checked by striking the supporting-arms 1%1 of the bedwires 140, see, Fig. lei, but the middle arm continues its forward movement, and independently pivoting said side arms on the middle arm permits such independent relative movements of the arms.

While the blank is being pushed along on the bed it may beneccssary to adjust it endwise, and herein means are provided to ac complish this result. Saidmeans comprises a pair of evener' plates 185, normally held in Thus spaces in tended arms on they adjuster frame.

both ends of the blanlnwvhich, it will be understood are extended upward, owing to the longitudinal curvature of the blank, and by first engaging one or the other end acts to move the blank endwise, so that both ends thereof will be caused to occupy the same plane, or some predetermined plane, accordmg to whether it is required that the counters shall. have their sides of equal or unequal length. As here shown, said plates are at- .tached'to the extremities of a pair of bent arms 186, adjustably secured to a rock-shaft 187, having its hearings in rearwardly explates and arms bearing them are held in elevated position by alocking-de'vice, which, when disengaged, permits them to fall by gravity. The 'lockingdevice hcrc shown, consists of a detent-arm 190, secured to the rock-shaft, and a lever 191, adapted t( engage it, which lever is pivoted-at a point .interm'ediate its length, at 192, to a part of the adjuster-frame, and means to move said lever into and out of engagement. The means to move said lever 191, may be arranged on the rodlZ-Q, and, as heres'hown, has two'pins 193, 194, adjustably arranged on said rod, above and below one end of the lever, and as the rod is moved upward the pin 194 will engage said lever and disengage it fromthe ,detent-arnn'thus permitting the plates 185 to fall, and as the rod is moved downward the pin .193 will engage said Said lever and move it into engagement with said w detent-arm' and; restore saidarm to normal and lock it and during suchreturnmovo' ment will lift theplates 185.. A counterbalancing weight 1954s connected with the rock-shaft 187 -to control the gravitath-ig movement of plates 185.

The blank is moved along on the bedby and during the initial movements of the blank-pushing 'arms to a position below the evener-p'lates, and said evener plates are then disengaged'and permitted to fall, and the blank-pushing arms are thenperniitted to dwell for a short period of time while the evener-plates act to even the blank, and then the-blank, having-been evened, is again advanced by the second and final movement of the blank-pushing arms, and during such time the. evener-plates still remain in engagement with the ends of the blank. When the blank has been pushed forward on the bed and arrives at the front end thereof, it then may be necessary-to correct its longi-- tudinal curvature in order that it mayco'r respond to the" arc of the jaws of the feeding-and-bending device, so as to be presented correctly to said jaws. To accon'iplish this result a form 196 is arranged above the front end portion of the'bed, the under side of which is curved. longitudinally. to correspond to the correct curve the blank shall have and the blank is pushed forward by the blank-pushing arms during its second or final movement beneath said curved form 196 and into the jaws of'the feeding-and bending device. Said form 196 has an upwardly extended shank 191- adapted to re-v ceive a bolt 198 by which said shank is at tached to a downwardly extended leg 199 on a block 200, which is provided with ashank' into the open jaws, while said jaws act to close'upon it. Asa means to positively engage and hold the blank at this time a pair of lifting-levers 205 are provided on the blank-adjuster and arranged in the space between the inside and outside bed-wires thereof, which are adapted to be moved up- Lward againstthe under side of the blank, to press said blank up into engagement with the curved form 196. Said lifting-levers are also designed to exerta forward pressure on the blank, tending to thrust the blank into the space between the jaws of the nipper-members. Said liftingdevers 205 extend lengthwise-the ,bed and are attached at their lfear'ends to a l'oclrshaft 206, supported by the adjuster-frame, and their front em s being depressed beneath the. blank and formed with inclined faces to engage the end portions of the blank and lift them into engagement with the form. Said rock-shaft 206, has a short arm 207, which normally rests on an extension ofone of the arms 1 11, which serves as a stop to limit the movement of the shaft in one direction, and thereby limit downward movement of said lovers. The shaft 206 is rocked for the purpose of lifting thelevers and has secured to it a downwardly extended arm 208, with a lateral extension adapted to be engaged by a lever 209, secured to the"rock-shaft 164. The lever 209 is normally arranged quite remote from the arm 208, so that it will not engage said arm until the blank arrives at the fa, ont end of the bed, and is hrust into the blax engaging nippcrs and then while the h ankpushing aim 160 remains at rest, having reached the end of its stroke, said arm 209 will operate to lift said levers 205 and press the blank into engagement with the form. Such independent movement of the arm 209 with respect to the arm 160 is permitted by the spring 170. As the lever 209 is rigidly chine.

connected with the rock-shaft 206 it is restored by it, and the levers 205 are restored by gravity when the arm 208 is disengaged by the lever 209.

The feeding-and-bending device will now 'be described, reference being bad to Figs.

has additional capabilities to especially adapt it to the work which it has to perform, and is, therefore, an improvement upon the feeding-and-bending device of said application.

Referring to the present feeding-and bending device 215 represents the head of said device which is made as a yoke, and

arranged at the top of a vertical spindle 216, having its hearing at the end of a longitudinally adjustable arm 217, mounted on the vupright bar 152, and. arranged to oscillate in a horizontal plane about sai-zt bar as an axis, the extent of oscillation being suillcient to more the head far enou h to convey the blank from the blank-adj to the coni )i:'essing-mechanism, or,v .iown in Fig. 18, from the dotiedto the all line position. To oscillate said arm ill"? a link 2153 connects said arm with one arm 21.9 of a bell-crank lever, Il'lOllliilPti to turn on a bar 220, the other arts 1 of said lever engaging a cam to the rotating gear-shaft 153i whnh lr; adapted to make one revolution 1 .1 ch opcratioi'i of the ma- Said cam acts to more the arm and head borne by it from the dotted to the full line position shown inl ig. 1S, and to permit return of the same, and a strong spring 223 is connected at one end to an arm 22 1-, rigidly secured to the bell-crank lever 219 221, and at the other end to the frame which acts to return arm 21?, n'ioving it from the full to the dotted line position 

